Surfboard and propelling means therefor



March 8, 1938. J NEGRl 2,110,812

SURFBOARD AND PROPELLING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 9, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet l Inventor g wwb My m A tiorngys March s, 1938. J. NEGRI2,110,812

SURFBOARD AND PROPELLING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 9, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor wjimev A4317 Attorneys ifatented Mar. 8, 1938UNITED STATES PATENT SURFBOARD AND PROPELLING MEANS THEREFOR 3 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to surfboards and similar crafts, and anobject of the invention is to provide improved means for use inconjunction with a surfboard or like craft for propelling the same.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a surfboard embodying thefeatures of the present in- Vention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a propelling member.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that 5indicates an oblong fiat board which may be constructed from anysuitable material and may be referred to as a surfboard.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided adjacent theforward end of the board 5 and in close parallel relation to thelongitudinal edges of the board 5 elongated slots 6 to accommodatepropulsion elements 1.

Each of the propulsion elements 1 comprises a slide 8 in the form of aflat bar provided on the underside thereof with a longitudinal rib 9which is accommodated in a slot 6.

Suitably mounted on the rib 9 at opposite sides of the latter andadjacent the forward end of the rib are rollers it! which ride on thetop surface of the board 5.

Adjacent the forward end thereof the slide 8 5 is provided with flangesor lugs H between which is supported a suitable hand grip l2.

Depending from the slide 53 and extending through the slide and its rib9 is a rod H which serves as a pivot for a pair of blades or paddles 40I l-l4.

The paddles or blades M are formed of any suitable material and at theirupper and lower edges have secured by screws or other fastening elementsit thereto hinge plates is which 45 at one end are provided with eyes Hto accommodate the hinge rod l3.

The rod I3 is in the form of a bolt, inverted and having its upperthreaded end extending through the rib 9 and slide 8 and equipped with a50 nut l8.

Secured to one side of the rod l3 as at I9 is a stop block 20 againstwhich the blade paddles l4 abut when said blades are in a propellingposition which is in the extended position shown in Figure 3.

It will thus be seen that in using the surfboard 5 equipped with thepropelling devices l the user 5 lies prone on the board 5 as shown inFigure 1 and grips in each hand thereof the handles l2 of the slides 8.Obviously by pulling on the slides 8 the latter will be caused to moverear- Wardly and the blades H5 in the extended posi- 10 tion shown inFigure 3 will present the maximum surface thereof against the water topropel the surfboard forwardly. On the return stroke the blades willclose, as is thought to be apparent, and will then offer minimumresistance in the 15 passage of the device through the water.

It will thus be seen that the surfboard can be propelled by the actionof the arms reciprocating the slides 8, the blades offering the maximumsurface to the water on the propelling stroke and 20 feathering orclosing on the return stroke.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utilityand advantages of an invention of this character will be had without amore detailed description.

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new is:-

1. A surfboard, a pair of slides mounted on said surfboard, saidsurfboard being provided with longitudinal slots, rods depending fromsaid slides and extending through said slots, and a pair of bladeshinged to the lower end of each of said rods.

2. A surfboard, a pair of slides mounted on said surfboard, saidsurfboard being provided with longitudinal slots, rods depending fromsaid slides and extending through said slots, and a pair of bladeshinged to the lower end of each of said rods, stops provided on saidrods to be engaged by said blades during the propelling stroke of theslides.

3. A surfboard, a pair of slides mounted on said surfboard, saidsurfboard being provided with longitudinal slots, rods depending fromsaid slides and extending through said slots, and a pair of bladeshinged to the lower end of each of said rods, stops provided on saidrods to be engaged by said blades during the propelling stroke of theslides, and each of said slides being provided with a hand grip.

J AMES NEGRI.

